Industry leaders are warn of scammers posing as tradies to rip-off uninsured flood victims

Uninsured flood victims are being urged to check the credentials of any unsolicited approaches for building repairs work with scammers likely to be on the prowl.

Building industry leaders say uninsured flood victims should be aware of unlicensed tradies offering to repair and renovate homes. Picture: Stock Image

Distressed uninsured homeowners are being urged to use only licensed tradies to avoid being fleeced by scammers preying on flood victims, industry leaders warn.

With a shortage of trades across Queensland, fears have been raised that shysters will take advantage of residents desperate to return home by making promises they cannot fulfil, said the building watchdog’s commissioner Richard Cassidy.

QBCC inspectors will be out in force to check the credentials of builders working on flood-affected homes. Picture: Supplied

To avoid any financial pain, anyone engaging a tradie should first check their credentials on the Queensland Building and Construction Commission’s website, he said.

“Unfortunately, when disaster strikes, we often see unscrupulous people trying to take advantage of disaster victims,” Mr Cassidy said.

“We see people offering to do building work and repairs when they’re not licensed to do so.

“We have a ‘find a local contractor’ search function on our website, which includes only licensed tradespeople local to you.”

worker on a roof with hammer, generic tradesman

The lack of tradies for uninsured work will cause frustration and desperation among flood victims already feeling helpless, said Master Builders Qld CEO Paul Bidwell.

The temptation to accept a quick fix for cash from an unsolicited approach is the concern because any work costing more than $3,000 is covered under home warranty insurance, he said.

“If you haven’t got insurance and someone turns up and says ‘I can fix your problem and do it right now’ and the price sounds reasonable, it is very tempting,” he said.

“But the road is littered with sad stories of people who have gone down that track.

Master Builders Deputy CEO Paul Bidwell in Brisbane says flood-victims have to avoid the temptation of a quick fix. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“If it’s building work, particularly if it is structural, you don’t get a licensed contractor they are so exposed as there is home warranty insurance for any work over $3,000 which protects the owner against defective work.”

Work that is building related, including plumbing, plastering, painting and concreting, should be done through a licensed operator, he said.

The rare exemption is for ‘handyman’ work such as using a gurney or to have something just cleaned,” Mr Bidwell said.

A tradesman working on home construction. All building related trades should be licensed with the QBCC. Picture: Supplied

In an attempt to prevent scams, QBCC inspectors will be out in force in flood-affected areas checking the credentials of building site workers, Mr Cassidy said.

“QBCC officers will also soon begin patrolling parts of the flood-affected areas, undertaking licence checks and to ensure building work is being done in accordance with the relevant codes,” he said.

Originally published as Industry leaders are warn of scammers posing as tradies to rip-off uninsured flood victims